From Exile To Queen Of Everything - Chapter 62: Chapter 62
You are reading From Exile To Queen Of Everything, Chapter 62: Chapter 62. Read more chapters of From Exile To Queen Of Everything.
Hearing Ethan's voice, Nora turned her face away and quickly wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes.
Ethan walked in and, seeing Nora shrink away from him, felt a sharp pang in his chest. "Nora, I made breakfast, your favorites. Eat a little before you go back to sleep, or your stomach will hurt."
Nora froze momentarily at Ethan's words. 'He made breakfast?' she wondered, 'He didn't go to work today? And he even made me breakfast? What's Ethan up to now?'
Nora shook her head, her voice cold and distant. "I'm not hungry. Just leave. I need to rest."
Ethan watched her retreating back, his outstretched hand frozen in midair. 'Have we really grown so distant?' he wondered, a pang of bitterness in his chest.
"Alright, but don't forget to eat," Ethan said softly.
As Ethan turned to leave, Nora remained silent. Only when the door closed did the tears she had struggled to hold back suddenly burst forth like a storm, each drop pelting the bedsheet with relentless force.
'Ethan, I'll let you go. I choose to walk away. You win,' Nora wondered.
Ethan arrived at the office, distracted, his face dark as thunder. Everyone kept their distance. His subordinates were all on edge. 'Has Mr. Preston had another fight with Mrs. Preston?' they wondered.
His assistant informed Ethan that Sienna had refused his meeting request just as he'd expected. He knew Enna wouldn't see him so easily.
"Shirley, Mr. Preston seems to be in a bad mood today. Why don't you take this coffee to him?" someone suggested.
"Huh? Is Mr. Preston in a bad mood? Did Mrs. Preston come by this morning? Give it to me. I'll go check on him," said Shirley.
Sienna drove Amber to the amusement park. As the bustling park came into view, Amber's little cowlick bounced playfully, her lips curling into an irrepressible grin.
Amber huffed, "This place looks so boring. I'm only here to keep you company—wouldn't have come otherwise."
Amber crossed her arms with a haughty hmph and strode boldly inside. But as she reached the doorway, she couldn't resist a furtive glance over her shoulder to check if Sienna was following.
Sienna came up behind her, adjusting her mask and cap, though the disguise did little to soften her presence.
Her cool detachment and razor-sharp aura made her stand out in the crowd, and people instinctively gave her a wide berth, as if repelled by an invisible force.
Lana's eyes darted around, ever vigilant for any sign of trouble.
"Why don't you try the paddle boat race? The winner gets a Bartholomew Bear," said Sienna.
Sienna remembered how much Amber had loved Bartholomew Bear as a child. She used to hide it all around her room.
Amber pouted and grumbled, "So lame. I'm not going."
Sienna didn't catch the flicker of fear in Amber's eyes.
Amber was terrified of water. When she was eight or nine, someone pushed her into the swimming pool. Ever since that day, she'd been terrified of water.
Even in the shallowest water, she would freeze with fear, a dark shadow from her past always looming overhead.
Those childhood fears clung to Amber like a demon's dark mist, forever lingering in her mind and binding her hands and feet.
"Miss Enna, don't you love Bartholomew Bear? Let me do it. It's just a little contest. I'll win it for you," Lana said excitedly, rolling up her sleeves as she got ready to jump in.
At this, Amber hastily stuffed her bag into Lana's arms and tilted her chin up, her eyes full of disdain. "Actually, this paddle boat thing looks kinda fun. I'm going to try it. You?
"Didn't you see the sign? No contestants over 18. You're not even eligible, yet here you are trying to butt in. Hmph."
Lana found herself holding the small bag Amber had shoved into her arms. Amber tried to put on a fierce look, but to Lana, she just looked like an adorably fierce little kitten trying to act tough.
Her eyes narrowed haughtily at Lana, chin lifted high just to meet her gaze. Petite as she was, she looked like a tiny tot standing before her.
Amber wore blue overalls and a T-shirt with a cat design. The most adorable part was her shoes. The little bunny pattern suited her perfectly.
With a defiant little huff through her delicate nose, Amber marched straight into the blazing sun to sign up.
After Amber signed up for the next round, Sienna gently placed her hand on Amber's head and said softly, "If you don't like it, you don't have to join. There are other games we can try."
Amber pouted and swatted Sienna's hand off her head.
Her hand wasn't warm. In fact, it was cool. Yet her touch was so gentle, her fingers running through Amber's hair in a way that sent waves of comfort through her, lifting her spirits.
But the race was about to start. Amber reluctantly pulled her hand away.
"Who says I don't like it? I'm going. You two just wait for me at the finish line." With that, she dashed off toward the starting area before anyone could stop her.
Lana was gradually getting to know Amber's personality. She never said what she really felt, was proud, and a bit stubborn, with just a hint of an adorable temper.
The two walked over to the finish line, a short course where each round of the race took under ten minutes.
Amber tensed for a moment at the sight of the moving water in front of her. Then she quickly clenched her fists and locked her eyes on the Bartholomew Bear waiting at the finish line.
'It's just a Bartholomew Bear, isn't it?' Amber wondered, 'Piece of cake. It's not like Sienna actually likes it. I just think paddle boating is fun, and I'm going to be the champion.'
Taking a deep breath, Amber stepped onto the paddle boat, her fingers gripping the sides tightly.
"On your marks, get set, go." At the signal, the paddle boats surged forward.
Amber strained to paddle, forcing herself to move faster and faster.
The cheering crowd roared around her, yet with each stroke of the paddle, Amber felt a needle-like pang in her chest. Dread coiled around her heart as her face gradually paled.
When Amber glanced up and saw Sienna waiting at the finish line, she gritted her teeth and forced herself to paddle even faster.
'Nothing to be afraid of,' Amber told herself.
Just as Amber was nearing the finish line, her paddle boat was suddenly rammed and capsized. She plunged into the water.
The terrifying sensation of suffocation gripped her whole body as water rushed into her mouth, stung her eyes, and filled her nose. She was drowning.
Driven by terror, Amber thrashed wildly in the water. It was barely deep enough to reach her shoulders. She could have just stood up and been safe. But no matter how hard she tried, her body simply wouldn't obey.
Just as Amber was about to lose consciousness, her mouth opening helplessly, an arm suddenly wrapped around her waist and yanked her up from the water's depths.
Sienna patted her back firmly before pulling her into a tight embrace. "Amber?" she called urgently, her voice tight with worry.
Upon hearing Sienna's voice, Amber's long lashes fluttered faintly before her eyes slowly opened.
"Sis," Amber choked out, throwing herself into Sienna's arms as her whole body trembled uncontrollably.
Sienna's heart twisted with bitter guilt as she realized Amber was terrified of water.
'How could I not know?' Sienna wondered. Guilt washed over her like rising water, submerging her whole being in its suffocating embrace.
"Don't be afraid. I've got you." Sienna lifted Amber up in her arms, holding her close.
As Amber caught that familiar scent, her fear slowly faded away. She opened her eyes and gazed up at Sienna.
Amber could feel Sienna's steady heartbeat against her chest, each strong, rhythmic pulse gradually easing away the last traces of her panic.
Amber just sat there in a daze until Sienna gently settled her onto a chair and asked with concern.
Sienna leaned in, her voice full of concern. "Amber, are you hurt anywhere?"
Amber snapped out of it, a little embarrassed, and shook her head. 'Did I just call her Sis? With all that noise, she shouldn't have heard me, right?' She wondered, 'She couldn't have heard that.'
Sometimes, Amber felt so tangled up inside. She was a mess of contradictions, and she didn't even make sense to herself.
She kind of wanted Sienna to hear her, but at the same time, she really hoped she hadn't.
Her conflicting emotions were all tangled up inside her, like a ball of thread she just couldn't unravel.
"I'm fine," Amber murmured.
Sienna pinched Amber's cheek, her voice laced with urgent concern. "You're afraid of water. Why didn't you tell me? And why did you still insist on joining that paddle boat race?"
Amber pouted, her eyes reddening and nose tingling with unshed tears.
When Sienna saw Lana returning with the Bartholomew Bear, it all clicked. A dull ache weighed on her chest, and a lump formed in her throat.
Ethan walked in and, seeing Nora shrink away from him, felt a sharp pang in his chest. "Nora, I made breakfast, your favorites. Eat a little before you go back to sleep, or your stomach will hurt."
Nora froze momentarily at Ethan's words. 'He made breakfast?' she wondered, 'He didn't go to work today? And he even made me breakfast? What's Ethan up to now?'
Nora shook her head, her voice cold and distant. "I'm not hungry. Just leave. I need to rest."
Ethan watched her retreating back, his outstretched hand frozen in midair. 'Have we really grown so distant?' he wondered, a pang of bitterness in his chest.
"Alright, but don't forget to eat," Ethan said softly.
As Ethan turned to leave, Nora remained silent. Only when the door closed did the tears she had struggled to hold back suddenly burst forth like a storm, each drop pelting the bedsheet with relentless force.
'Ethan, I'll let you go. I choose to walk away. You win,' Nora wondered.
Ethan arrived at the office, distracted, his face dark as thunder. Everyone kept their distance. His subordinates were all on edge. 'Has Mr. Preston had another fight with Mrs. Preston?' they wondered.
His assistant informed Ethan that Sienna had refused his meeting request just as he'd expected. He knew Enna wouldn't see him so easily.
"Shirley, Mr. Preston seems to be in a bad mood today. Why don't you take this coffee to him?" someone suggested.
"Huh? Is Mr. Preston in a bad mood? Did Mrs. Preston come by this morning? Give it to me. I'll go check on him," said Shirley.
Sienna drove Amber to the amusement park. As the bustling park came into view, Amber's little cowlick bounced playfully, her lips curling into an irrepressible grin.
Amber huffed, "This place looks so boring. I'm only here to keep you company—wouldn't have come otherwise."
Amber crossed her arms with a haughty hmph and strode boldly inside. But as she reached the doorway, she couldn't resist a furtive glance over her shoulder to check if Sienna was following.
Sienna came up behind her, adjusting her mask and cap, though the disguise did little to soften her presence.
Her cool detachment and razor-sharp aura made her stand out in the crowd, and people instinctively gave her a wide berth, as if repelled by an invisible force.
Lana's eyes darted around, ever vigilant for any sign of trouble.
"Why don't you try the paddle boat race? The winner gets a Bartholomew Bear," said Sienna.
Sienna remembered how much Amber had loved Bartholomew Bear as a child. She used to hide it all around her room.
Amber pouted and grumbled, "So lame. I'm not going."
Sienna didn't catch the flicker of fear in Amber's eyes.
Amber was terrified of water. When she was eight or nine, someone pushed her into the swimming pool. Ever since that day, she'd been terrified of water.
Even in the shallowest water, she would freeze with fear, a dark shadow from her past always looming overhead.
Those childhood fears clung to Amber like a demon's dark mist, forever lingering in her mind and binding her hands and feet.
"Miss Enna, don't you love Bartholomew Bear? Let me do it. It's just a little contest. I'll win it for you," Lana said excitedly, rolling up her sleeves as she got ready to jump in.
At this, Amber hastily stuffed her bag into Lana's arms and tilted her chin up, her eyes full of disdain. "Actually, this paddle boat thing looks kinda fun. I'm going to try it. You?
"Didn't you see the sign? No contestants over 18. You're not even eligible, yet here you are trying to butt in. Hmph."
Lana found herself holding the small bag Amber had shoved into her arms. Amber tried to put on a fierce look, but to Lana, she just looked like an adorably fierce little kitten trying to act tough.
Her eyes narrowed haughtily at Lana, chin lifted high just to meet her gaze. Petite as she was, she looked like a tiny tot standing before her.
Amber wore blue overalls and a T-shirt with a cat design. The most adorable part was her shoes. The little bunny pattern suited her perfectly.
With a defiant little huff through her delicate nose, Amber marched straight into the blazing sun to sign up.
After Amber signed up for the next round, Sienna gently placed her hand on Amber's head and said softly, "If you don't like it, you don't have to join. There are other games we can try."
Amber pouted and swatted Sienna's hand off her head.
Her hand wasn't warm. In fact, it was cool. Yet her touch was so gentle, her fingers running through Amber's hair in a way that sent waves of comfort through her, lifting her spirits.
But the race was about to start. Amber reluctantly pulled her hand away.
"Who says I don't like it? I'm going. You two just wait for me at the finish line." With that, she dashed off toward the starting area before anyone could stop her.
Lana was gradually getting to know Amber's personality. She never said what she really felt, was proud, and a bit stubborn, with just a hint of an adorable temper.
The two walked over to the finish line, a short course where each round of the race took under ten minutes.
Amber tensed for a moment at the sight of the moving water in front of her. Then she quickly clenched her fists and locked her eyes on the Bartholomew Bear waiting at the finish line.
'It's just a Bartholomew Bear, isn't it?' Amber wondered, 'Piece of cake. It's not like Sienna actually likes it. I just think paddle boating is fun, and I'm going to be the champion.'
Taking a deep breath, Amber stepped onto the paddle boat, her fingers gripping the sides tightly.
"On your marks, get set, go." At the signal, the paddle boats surged forward.
Amber strained to paddle, forcing herself to move faster and faster.
The cheering crowd roared around her, yet with each stroke of the paddle, Amber felt a needle-like pang in her chest. Dread coiled around her heart as her face gradually paled.
When Amber glanced up and saw Sienna waiting at the finish line, she gritted her teeth and forced herself to paddle even faster.
'Nothing to be afraid of,' Amber told herself.
Just as Amber was nearing the finish line, her paddle boat was suddenly rammed and capsized. She plunged into the water.
The terrifying sensation of suffocation gripped her whole body as water rushed into her mouth, stung her eyes, and filled her nose. She was drowning.
Driven by terror, Amber thrashed wildly in the water. It was barely deep enough to reach her shoulders. She could have just stood up and been safe. But no matter how hard she tried, her body simply wouldn't obey.
Just as Amber was about to lose consciousness, her mouth opening helplessly, an arm suddenly wrapped around her waist and yanked her up from the water's depths.
Sienna patted her back firmly before pulling her into a tight embrace. "Amber?" she called urgently, her voice tight with worry.
Upon hearing Sienna's voice, Amber's long lashes fluttered faintly before her eyes slowly opened.
"Sis," Amber choked out, throwing herself into Sienna's arms as her whole body trembled uncontrollably.
Sienna's heart twisted with bitter guilt as she realized Amber was terrified of water.
'How could I not know?' Sienna wondered. Guilt washed over her like rising water, submerging her whole being in its suffocating embrace.
"Don't be afraid. I've got you." Sienna lifted Amber up in her arms, holding her close.
As Amber caught that familiar scent, her fear slowly faded away. She opened her eyes and gazed up at Sienna.
Amber could feel Sienna's steady heartbeat against her chest, each strong, rhythmic pulse gradually easing away the last traces of her panic.
Amber just sat there in a daze until Sienna gently settled her onto a chair and asked with concern.
Sienna leaned in, her voice full of concern. "Amber, are you hurt anywhere?"
Amber snapped out of it, a little embarrassed, and shook her head. 'Did I just call her Sis? With all that noise, she shouldn't have heard me, right?' She wondered, 'She couldn't have heard that.'
Sometimes, Amber felt so tangled up inside. She was a mess of contradictions, and she didn't even make sense to herself.
She kind of wanted Sienna to hear her, but at the same time, she really hoped she hadn't.
Her conflicting emotions were all tangled up inside her, like a ball of thread she just couldn't unravel.
"I'm fine," Amber murmured.
Sienna pinched Amber's cheek, her voice laced with urgent concern. "You're afraid of water. Why didn't you tell me? And why did you still insist on joining that paddle boat race?"
Amber pouted, her eyes reddening and nose tingling with unshed tears.
When Sienna saw Lana returning with the Bartholomew Bear, it all clicked. A dull ache weighed on her chest, and a lump formed in her throat.
End of From Exile To Queen Of Everything Chapter 62. Continue reading Chapter 63 or return to From Exile To Queen Of Everything book page.